Ever drive through a town, then find out later there was some really cool stuff there? Well, here's a small attempt to make sure that never happens to you again.

Collected here are places you won’t want to miss or will end up wistful over long after you’ve left. The criteria for inclusion on our pages: homegrown goodness, clever purveyors of the pretty and the pretty hip, and green spaces to inspire your deepest reveries and most profound thanks for being alive. I know, it’s a tall order. But frankly, these towns deliver. Click through to find your next trek, be it down the block, or a few states away. Your adventure is awaiting you…

Once you’ve spent time in this fetching South Carolina coastal town situated on the May River and just a half an hour’s drive from Savannah, we predict it will rise in the ranks as your go-to getaway. A relaxed air pervades the place like Spanish moss, but this is no scruffy enclave. Bluffton has the…

Oaks and Derby are somewhat of a mixed blessing to Louisville residents. Sure the air is bristling with excitement: JCPS is closed and visions of naming the Trifecta dance in your head. You know those mint juleps won’t make themselves, so you might as well venture out into the public to restock your liquor cabinet.…

Not far outside Dayton to the east, Yellow Springs, Ohio has long held a bohemian rep. Hordes descend upon the village each summer and fall for a taste of its unabashed individuality and zest for life during the epic semi-annual Street Fair. The hold-overs from an attempt at utopia, Yellow Springs residents are still a…

The allure of Oberlin, Ohio is akin to being caught in the gravitational pull of a planet. It is its own world beckoning you home. Oberlin is both earthy and cerebral, edgy and refined. Juxtaposing Oberlin College’s picturesque historical architecture is an unwavering commitment to engaging the complex issues of the day. This is indeed…

The rolling green hills and rambling black fences of Lexington, Kentucky horse country are legendary. While we heartily recommend whiling away an afternoon at Keeneland placing bets on your favorite filly, there’s more to Lex than equines. The NoLi Night Market, for instance, draws urbanites from nearby neighborhoods and downtown with its food truck parade,…

If you’ve not heard of Leiper’s Fork, we couldn’t really blame you. This unincorporated village along the Natchez Trace in Tennessee flies mostly under the radar. That is unless you’ve been there. In that case, returning to Leiper’s Fork is nearly all that’s on your mind. Leiper’s casts a spell all its own. It is…

Nestled in the sweet spot between mountains and the winding Tennessee River, Chattanooga has long enthralled outdoor enthusiasts with its scenic splendor, challenging peaks and diverse paddling. While you’ll find generous opportunities to hike, bike, paddle and climb, the city puts its own spin on things. The Block, for instance, a multi-use facility covering (you…

Just like that scrappy dog you adopted a bit hesitantly before it wormed its way into your heart for good, the Scruffy City has plans to win you over. Along with plenty of craft beer aficionados, wide patios, and artful cups of coffee, you’ll find world class, small batch craft denim at Marc Nelson, and…

Summer is a fine time to branch out–read a new book, sit on a different patio, try out that gallery you’ve been meaning to hit up. Whether you’re planning an exotic get-away or chained to your desk, it’s always a great time to be a tourist in your own town. Besides, what better season to…

There’s a myriad of reasons to love Nashville: gorgeous city parks, Hattie B’s Hot Chicken, The Nashville Farmers’ Market and the chances you’ll stumble into a really good music show while just trying to get a burger. Here’s 15 more reasons we want to be there, and we think you should too. 1. If you…

Haven’t made it to Union Market in the NoMa district yet? Here’s a little pictorial to whet your whistle. It was drizzly and chilly the day we went, but that never stopped Sunday Funday. Make plans. Spring is prime time for new pop-ups and general merrymaking. Tuesday night yoga sessions at Dock 5, indie films…

It’s that time of year when your social media feeds are full of beach pics and the ruddy complexions of friends lounging on far flung shores. Don’t let it get you down. Lex has all the makings for a perfect staycation. All you need is a little vitamin D and some gelato… 1. First, leave…

Set on the James River, this town has plenty to offer paddlers and history aficionados, yes. But the real story happening in Richmond is the burgeoning art scene and the reshaping of its culture as it looks forward, leaving behind the city best known for its past. Church Hill is the neighborhood to watch, but culinary uprisings are popping up…

Patio season is fast upon us. It’s time to stake a claim, Richmond. Leave that paperwork behind and enjoy the gorgeous temps before the mercury climbs to surface of the sun heights. You know it’s coming. Here are some of our favorite patios in RVA sure renew your faith in mankind, just when you need…

It shouldn’t surprise you that while you weren’t looking, Cincinnati has become legit, again. Underground brewery tours, pop-up cinema, a full-fledged foodie scene, and more await on the banks of the mighty Ohio. After all, those cool cats from WKRP must have known something. The Shepherd Fairey murals scattered about town should tip you off that…

It is the soul of a town that shapes its persona, and Pittsboro reminds us that a good friend with an infectious belly laugh can charm us every time. Its plain talk and easy smiles make us feel as if we’ve been pals for life. With a happy mix of artists and farmers, the Circle…

Rowing, antiques, kitsch, coffee–while you can easily get waylaid by the sparkly Newport on the Levee chains, we suggest you bypass the boring and get to know the real Newport. So after you’ve defied death walking over a live shark tank, amble a little further into the heart of Newport. Though the gambling casinos and…

Enamored as we are of Cincinnati, we can’t seem to shake our city crush on Covington, Kentucky. Just over the magical Roebling Bridge, it waits for us with its German roots and wooded streets, bidding us to slow down just a bit. We long to wander the fetching historic MainStrasse Village with a steamer in…

Just twenty minutes outside Asheville, Black Mountain has a gravitational pull all its own. Cocooned in the belly of the Blue Ridge, this amiable mountain town makes slowing your roll the only reasonable thing to do. They don’t call it the Front Porch of Western North Carolina’s Blue Ridge for nothing. The highly innovative Black…

Some cities care little for adoration. Like a classic song on vinyl, Louisville seems to know its worth. It doesn’t seek to be categorized or put in a genre. While natives might welcome you to the party, don’t be expecting an invitation to come freely. Trust is earned in this town. Yet once gained, you’ll…

The South of the James Farmers Market might stir up some neighborhood envy. Not only was it chosen as Best Farmers Market in the central region by Virginia Living magazine and one of the fifty best in the nation by Cooking Light, but it regularly garners hordes of locavores come rain or come shine…or in…

It may not surprise you to hear we fall pretty hard for each town included here on Hip Green Scene, and while we have plenty more in store for you in the coming months, we felt the beginning of summer is the perfect time for a little recap of our adventures that might inspire you…

There is a certain generosity of spirit that spreads easily in a community which knows it’s got something good going. Such is the case in the magical little hamlet of Saxapahaw, tucked sweetly in Alamance County, North Carolina. Warmth and openness are de rigueur here. While the town’s hub consists of a narrow cluster of…

Maybe it is reflective of our own dual nature, but we find the dichotomy in Asheville interesting. Made famous as much for the castle built by a Vanderbilt heir as by long-standing drum circles downtown, Asheville is a marriage of opposites. The happy result is architectural grandeur alongside an earthiness that just might tempt you…

We’ve always loved the energy of sleepy little college towns. While Chapel Hill is still firmly entrenched in tradition, much of it having a little something to do with Tarheel fever, you will find plenty other pursuits worth investigating. We were immediately struck with the myriad of culinary options in a small radius. Walk a…

The City of Oaks is way more than you might have imagined. Raleigh has a diverse, thriving downtown with more than a few hip neighborhood offshoots. It is the kind of place that leaves you wondering how you could have lived this long with no idea what was waiting right off Interstate 95, if you…

Imagine the Triangle cities as sisters. In this case, Durham is the laid back one you’d think was just as good looking as her sister Raleigh, but a little more relaxing to be around. Great food trucks, interesting galleries, cute little eateries–Durham has it in spades. It may be a little trickier to navigate, but…

You’ve heard Charleston is genteel and mannerly, yes…perhaps. But it is also loaded with plenty of raucous fun. Whether you’re headed down South for the amazing Spoleto Festival or just a weekend stroll among the palmettos, you are in for a good time. Epic shopping, sprawling mansions, outrageous food–this is a town for indulgence. But fear…

We decided to bring you a brief primer on Kentucky’s capital city, only the cool parts, naturally. Cradled on the banks of the Kentucky River, Frankfort is rife with stories. For instance, the creator of Bibb lettuce grew up in the historic town. His family home is trimmed in lacy wood cutout that resembles the…

Tucked quietly behind VMI’s warm ochre barracks, the historic district of Lexington, Virginia blends just the right amount of Main Street Americana with a certain citified allure. The beautiful wrought iron balconies and pebbled walk leading to Stonewall Jackson’s kitchen garden and carriage are alongside gilded truffles, coffee shops, and sweet boutiques. Craftsmen are busy…

Anyone who has lived in Athens, Georgia can attest to its strange magnetism. With strong ties to the alternative music scene, Athens spawned such acts as R.E.M. and the B-52’s back in the day, and many since. The constant influx of students from UGA breathes new life into the downtown area and keeps the watering…

Perhaps it’s those Midwestern values, but anywhere you go in Indianapolis you’re likely to find a welcoming and friendly sort around you. Frankly, even the downtown area has a bit of a homey feel. Thanks to the Cultural Trail, you’re likely to see smiling folks on bikes. The City Market runs one of the only…

We didn’t stop just because they’ve been crowned “The Coolest Small Town in America,” but we’ll admit the roadside sign did pique our curiosity. I mean, how cool could they be, right? Well, let’s put it this way– it has become a running joke around here that we never fail to stop in Lewisburg when we are…

It is that time of year again. Chances are the dregs of big box retail will sing their siren song. Don’t listen. We’ve got a better idea. Hit up these cool small businesses in Raleigh, and buy your loved ones something awesome. They deserve it, and your local proprietor will thank you in copious smiles.…